Clay County Sheriff’s Office releases statement regarding stolen U-Haul & Officer Involved Shooting
News March 22, 2019
Hayesville, NC FYN received the following Press Release from the Clay County Sheriff’s Office
March 22, 2019
In the early afternoon hours of March 21, 2019, the Clay County Sheriff’s Office took a report of a stolen
U-Haul truck. Later that afternoon, Clay County dispatch center received a report of a U-Haul truck in the
Shooting Creek Community that matched the description of the one that was reported stolen earlier in
the day. Deputies initiated a traffic stop on the U-Haul on Highway 64 East at the Shooting Creek Market.
Before it came to a complete stop in the parking lot, it immediately left and continued west on Hwy 64 at
a high rate of speed. Deputies pursued the vehicle down Highway 64 and onto Old Highway 64 East where
it sped through a construction zone. It continued towards Highway 175 and eventually turned onto Elf
School Road. The stolen U-Haul turned around in a field at the end of Patterson Road and traveled back
out Elf School Road.
Fearing the U-Haul would go back into the construction zone and strike pedestrians, a deputy was blocking
a portion of Elf School Road. The U-Haul then accelerated directly into the path of the deputy who was
out of his vehicle. The deputy fired his service weapon at the U-Haul. The U-Haul turned into a field and
the driver attempted to run from deputies on foot but was taken into custody. The female passenger was
flown to Northeast Georgia Medical Center for treatment and was released a short time later. During the
pursuit the U-Haul struck two patrol cars, one of which was totaled, and almost ran over pedestrians in
the construction zone.
The NC State Bureau of Investigation was immediately notified and responded to the scene.
Michael Paul Ledford, 36 of Murphy NC was charged with Driving While License Revoked, Reckless Driving
to Endanger, Reckless Driving With Wanton Disregard, 2 counts of Injury to Personal Property, Felony
Flee/Elude Arrest, Felony Possession of Stolen Motor Vehicle, and 5 counts of Assault With a Deadly
Weapon With Intent to Kill. Ledford was given a $350,000 secured bond and a court date of April 4, 2019.
Ledford also had active warrants for arrest out of Cherokee County for Resisting Public Officer, Felony
Break and Enter, Larceny After Break and Enter, Injury to Real Property, Possession of Methamphetamine
and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. He was given a secured bond of $8,500 on those charges and a court date of April 2, 2019.
Photos: Tractor trailer plunges into Western Carolina river
News February 13, 2019
FRANKLIN, NC – A tractor trailer traveling on Highway NC-28 between Franklin and Highlands, NC, plunged over a steep embankment Tuesday, Feb. 12, colliding with the icy Cullasaja River below.
The bed of the tractor trailer, lifted from the Cullasaja River by crane
FYN attempted to reach Cullasaja Gorge Fire Chief Paul Corbin for details surrounding the accident. Corbin was unavailable for immediate comment.
A witness tells FYN that the driver of the tractor trailer substained substantial injuries. Wet road conditions may have played a role in the accident.
(Photo Credits: Cullasaja Gorge Fire and Rescue)
Response crews at the scene of the accident
Recovery of the tractor trailer
NC-28 is known for its sharp twists and turns
Additional Details Surrounding Silvers’ Fatal Accident Surface
News March 6, 2019
HIAWASSEE, Ga. – New discoveries have surfaced surrounding the death of Terry Samuel Silvers, a 52 year old Hiawassee resident who was tragically killed in a motor vehicle accident on the evening of Saturday, Feb. 23, in Clay County, N.C. Additional witnesses have come forth on Silvers’ behalf, attesting to Silvers’ condition on the evening preceding his death. Furthermore, FYN uncovered the circumstances surrounding the unresponsive, emergency call issued to Towns County Sheriff’s Office the following night.
FYN released information three days after Silvers’ passing, exposing that Silvers had been involved in a vehicle accident on Bugscuffle Road in Towns County, the night prior to the fatal crash. Towns County Sheriff’s Office’s accident report, which was submitted to FYN by a third-party, stated that alcohol and substance screenings were not conducted by law enforcement Feb. 22. FYN since learned that alcohol testing was, in fact, administered to Silvers by the responding deputy.
Terry Silvers was traveling south on Bugscuffle Road when his vehicle entered into the oncoming lane of traffic, colliding with a roadside fence. The accident report states that shifting firewood in the bed of Silvers’ truck contributed to the collision. FYN contacted the owner of the property damaged in the incident, Daren “Bear” Osborn, a veteran law enforcement officer from a neighboring county.
Most recent social media profile photograph of Terry Silvers
Osborn told FYN that he was present when Towns County Sheriff’s Office arrived on scene, and asserted that despite alcohol testing conducted on the now-deceased, Silvers, in his observation, should not have been behind the wheel Feb. 22.
“I didn’t smell alcohol, but based on my training and experience, 32 years, I recognized (Terry) was in no shape to drive due to his condition,” the off-duty deputy explained, “What strikes me as odd is that an alco sensor and HGN was done which does not indicate drug use.” Osborn described Silvers as exhibiting confused behavior while showing evident signs of impaired judgment.
“Alco sensors” are commonly known as breathalizers. HGN, horizantal gaze nystagmus, is a standardized field sobriety test for alcohol-induced impairment.
John Bagley, Osborn’s neighbor, agreed that Silvers was unfit to drive. “(Terry) wrecked right across from my house,” Bagley said. “He was in no shape to be driving. I think there should have been additional tests done. It could have saved his life.”
Throughout the week following Silvers’ death, FYN spoke with over a dozen individuals who relayed that Silvers was a known opioid user with a long history of accidents. Family, friends, and neighbors claimed that Silvers had been released by Towns County Sheriff’s Office on multiple occasions without facing charges.
Terra Silvers, the daugter of Terry Silvers, contacted FYN through our website. “My father, Terry Silvers, had to lose his life due to lack of effort on behalf of Towns County Sheriff’s Office…,” Silvers wrote, “It’s just not fair. They are to protect and serve, but instead they want to let those that are under the influence go. All I can say is I’m really going to miss my dad. He was a good man, respectful, and would help anyone with anything he could. He didn’t deserve this.”
Numerous, additional family members, citizens, and unaffiliated law enforcement officers relayed that Terry Silvers was known to suffer from addiction, with many adding that Silvers’ case was not an isolated incident. One citizen shared her thoughts in the comment section of a previous article published by FYN. “Sad, but there are so many more examples of the TCSO (Towns County Sheriff’s Office) being ‘easy’ on local addicts…,” the remark reads.
On Feb. 23, the evening following the Bugscuffle Road accident, Silvers was traveling west of Hiawassee on Highway 76, when a good samaritan placed a 911 call to Towns County emergency dispatch upon witnessing a white Toyota pickup truck driving recklessly. Heather Segars, a local resident, pursued whom she soon identified as Silvers. pleading for law enforcement to respond to the turned-fatal incident.
As Segars followed Silvers into the parking lot of Cornerstore BP, a gas station at the intersection of Highway 76 and Highway 17, a siren can be heard in the 911 audio, passing the distraught caller. FYN learned that Towns County Sheriff’s Office was responding to a possible prowler off Highway 75, the road that leads to Helen, GA. Two officers had arrived on scene at the residence on Clark Drive at the time the be-on-the-lookout (BOLO) was issued to Towns County Sheriff’s Office. The initial, responding officers cleared the residence, with no disturbance found.
After deliberation and close consultation with the Silvers’ family, along with conversations with the traumatized 911 caller, FYNTV.com released the Feb. 23 emergency audio to allow the public to hear the disturbing interaction firsthand. The Silvers’ family and good samaritan maintain that Towns County Sheriff’s Office could have prevented the Feb. 23 fatality. FYNTV attached a recording of a phone call between a Towns County Sheriff’s Office deputy and the 911 dispatcher that took place shortly after the deadly crash occurred, revealing the Towns County deputy chastising the dispatcher for issuing the BOLO.
FYN contacted Towns County Sheriff’s Office prior to the release of previous articles pertaining to Terry Silvers’ death, offering opportunity to issue a statement on behalf of the department. Towns County Sheriff’s Office has not responded to FYN’s request.